How to become a Child Psychologist

How to become a Child Psychologist Passionate about providing children with a better future? You should become a Child Psychologist… Child Psychologists help children and young people with a range of mental and behavioural problems â€" including everything from depression and anxiety, to phobias, trauma, and aggression.Their job is to observe and analyse patients’ behaviour in age-appropriate situations (e.g. playtime activities with children, or supportive discussions with teenagers) â€" in order to understand their feelings, determine the route of the problem, and provide support and treatmentAlthough they often see patients individually, Child Psychologists could also carry out sessions in a group â€" with parents or other family members.Typical tasks for a Child Psychologist could include:Studying children’s’ actions using cognitive testingUsing their training to decipher meaning from behavioursOffering both short-term and long-term treatment plansCarrying out consultations and interventionsLiaising with o ther health and educational professionalsAttending conferences and meetingsSupervising traineesIs it right for me?First and foremost, you’ll need to be great at communicating with children of all ages.This means being able to interact with them on their level, read their signs and signals, and empathise with the wide range of problems they may be going through. And as some sessions may involve exploring painful or difficult experiences, emotional strength and objectivity will be key.Aspiring Child Psychologists will also need to have a positive attitude, which will help build trust with even the most emotionally ambiguous children.Child Psychologists will also need to be:DiscreetMatureUnderstandingSensitiveSincereObservantCareer Progression Child PsychologistUp to £25,000 Child PsychologistUp to £35,000 Senior Child PsychologistUp to £45,000What's it really like? My day-to-day involves meeting with children of all ages, and observing their behaviour and attitudes. This could include anything from watching a child draw and play, to discussing a patient’s issues with their parents. After some extensive cognitive analysis, I’ll come up with a tailored treatment plan to help them deal with the problems they’re going through. It’s not easy, and it can be difficult to watch young people explore their inner traumas, but the end result is what I always focus on. After all, you can’t come up with a solution without understanding the problem first. Get qualifiedAn industry-approved doctoral degree is usually required to become a Child Psychologist. This must be in a relevant subject â€" such as psychology, nursing, social work, or sociology. You’ll also need to have at least two years’ (voluntary or professional) experience working with children or families to get started.